Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 410 Uncovering the Truth, Princes Compete for the Throne

Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling quickly uncovered the truth and resolved the problem.

Faced with the sudden turmoil at the palace celebration, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling did not back down at all. They worked closely together, determined to find out the mastermind behind it all.

With the keen insight honed through years of battlefield experience, and the meticulousness and resourcefulness cultivated by Su Jinxiu in the palace, Xiao Ling left no stone unturned. They re-examined everyone the dancer had contacted before her incident, carefully analyzing every possible detail.

After a painstaking investigation, they finally discovered a key figure—a seemingly insignificant eunuch in the palace. This eunuch was usually quiet and unassuming, but his movements before the incident were highly suspicious.

Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu secretly followed and monitored the young eunuch, discovering that he had frequent, clandestine contact with a high-ranking minister.

"It seems there's something wrong with this minister," Su Jinxiu said.

Xiao Ling nodded in agreement: "We must find solid evidence to bring them all down in one fell swoop."

Further investigation revealed that the minister had secret correspondence with an enemy state, attempting to create chaos in the court and weaken his own country's power.

"So their conspiracy was so grand." Xiao Ling was furious.

Su Jinxiu calmly analyzed, "We can't alert them now; we need to find a way to make them reveal their true colors."

So, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling devised a clever trap. They deliberately spread rumors that they had obtained crucial evidence and were preparing to report it to the emperor. The minister, as expected, couldn't sit still and began secretly plotting a countermeasure.

Xiao Ling had already secretly arranged for people to overhear their schemes and plots.

"They won't be able to escape this time."

When the minister and his confidants were preparing to destroy the evidence and flee, Xiao Ling suddenly appeared with his soldiers and captured them in one fell swoop.

"Your plot has been exposed!"

Faced with irrefutable evidence, the minister had no choice but to confess and accept punishment.

When the emperor learned the truth, he was overjoyed.

"Xiao Ling, Su Jinxiu, you have once again rendered great service to me."

However, the story does not end there.

The minister's cronies were unwilling to accept defeat and secretly plotted a new conspiracy.

"We can't let Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu get away with this."

Meanwhile, the enemy nation, having learned of their failed plan, began to take even more aggressive actions.

Alarms are sounding again at the border, with signs of a large-scale enemy invasion.

"It seems a major battle is inevitable," Xiao Ling said.

Su Jinxiu firmly stated, "No matter what, we must protect the country and the palace."

The struggle for succession among the princes intensified, with each prince trying to win over the Marquis's mansion.

Within the palace, as the emperor aged, the struggle among the princes for the throne intensified. The eldest prince, leveraging the powerful influence of his mother's family, cultivated a large following in court; the second prince, known for his virtue, won the support of many ministers; while the third prince secretly amassed power, waiting for his opportune moment.

The Marquis's residence, where Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu lived, became the object of courtship for all the princes due to Xiao Ling's outstanding military achievements and Su Jinxiu's intelligence and resourcefulness.

The eldest prince took the lead in sending generous gifts, implying that if Xiao Ling supported him, he would be richly rewarded in the future.

"General Xiao, I have long heard of your bravery. If you help me ascend to the throne, I will enjoy endless wealth and honor."

Xiao Ling remained unmoved and politely declined the Crown Prince's envoy.

The second prince personally paid a visit, speaking earnestly.

"General Xiao, I am devoted to the country and its people. If I become the crown prince, I will surely implement benevolent policies. I hope you can lend me a hand."

Xiao Ling simply said, "Your Highness, this matter concerns the fate of the nation, and I dare not express my opinion lightly."

Seeing that he could not win over the first two princes, the third prince decided to start with Su Jinxiu.

“Madam Su, I have heard that you are quite prestigious in the palace. If you can persuade General Xiao to support me, you will surely become the mistress of the harem in the future.”

Su Jinxiu smiled slightly and replied, "Your Highness, I am but a woman, and this matter needs to be considered carefully."

However, the Marquis's ambiguous attitude aroused the dissatisfaction of the princes.

"What exactly are Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu up to?"

The eldest prince decided to put pressure on the Marquis's mansion.

"If Xiao Ling doesn't support me, I'll make him pay in the future."

The second prince deliberately mentioned Xiao Ling's contact with other princes in front of the emperor, trying to arouse the emperor's suspicion.

"Father, I have heard that General Xiao has been in close contact with several princes. I wonder what his intentions are."

Upon hearing this, the emperor also began to have doubts.

"Could it be that Xiao Ling has also been drawn into the struggle for the throne?"

Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling knew that if they were not careful in this struggle, they would be doomed.

"Husband, what should we do?" Su Jinxiu asked worriedly.

Xiao Ling pondered for a moment and said, "We must remain neutral and must not be used by any prince."

But things weren't as simple as they imagined.

The struggle among the princes intensified, and the situation in the palace became increasingly complex.

How will this conflict end?

Just then, urgent military intelligence arrived from the border that enemy troops had invaded.

"Something's wrong! The enemy is advancing rapidly, and the border is in dire straits!"

This unexpected event temporarily shifted the focus of the court from the struggle for the throne to the war.

Xiao Ling volunteered to lead the army into battle.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to fight off the enemy for the sake of the country and safeguard our borders."

The emperor agreed.

While Xiao Ling was away on campaign, Su Jinxiu dealt with various conspiracies and schemes alone in the palace.

"I must wait for my husband to return in triumph."